V-C calls for rationality in fee structure at Panjab University, affiliated colleges - Hindustan Times
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V-C calls for rationality in fee structure at Panjab University, affiliated colleges

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | By, Chandigarh
May 17, 2017 03:40 PM IST

Recently, the Panjab University had to roll back the tuition fee hike to 10% only for all the courses in PU departments under the pressure of senators. It is important to mention here that most of senators come from colleges.

Panjab University (PU) vice-chancellor Prof Arun Kumar Grover has called for rationality in fee structure in courses offered at university and affiliated colleges. During the meeting of chairpersons of various departments on Tuesday, the V-C said that there is a big difference in the fee structure at colleges and PU departments whereas both were offering the same courses. A fact sheet was also circulated among participants of the meeting.

Panjab University vice-chancellor Prof Arun Kumar Grover(HT File Photo)
Panjab University vice-chancellor Prof Arun Kumar Grover(HT File Photo)

Recently, the PU had to roll back the tuition fee hike to 10% only for all the courses in PU departments under the pressure of senators. It is important to mention here that most of senators come from colleges.

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According to the fee structure, circulated at the meeting, tuition fee is much lower in Punjab colleges than that in Chandigarh colleges and PU, but when we add other funds or charges, PU emerges much cheaper. PU does not charge for the youth welfare fund, prize distribution functions, seminar/club/societies, college news and annual reports, identity card, magazines, medical, retirement benefit fund and the library development fund while the affiliated colleges do not charge placement fee, the NSS and the development fund.

The difference of fees arises when it comes to college/department running and maintenance charges. PU charges just Rs 1,575 to Rs 1,600 per annum, whereas affiliated colleges in Chandigarh charge Rs 3,580 to Rs 10,140 per annum and the colleges in Punjab charge Rs 3,739 to Rs 13,105 per annum for traditional courses . After addition of these charges, PU comes out as a much cheaper institution.

For example, a BA degree costs Rs 8,692 per annum at PU while in affiliated colleges in Chandigarh, it costs Rs 13,150 per annum and in affiliated colleges of Punjab, it costs Rs 11,300 per annum. So, in Chandigarh colleges, a BA would be costlier by over 51% while in Punjab, it would be expensive by 30% than at PU.

Similarly, a BCom degree will be costlier in Chandigarh colleges by around 130% and in Punjab by 135.6% than at PU.

A BSc degree costs Rs 10,512 per annum at PU, while in Chandigarh colleges, it costs Rs 14,780 per annum and in Punjab, it will be around Rs 12,710 per annum. So, in Chandigarh colleges a student has to shell out 40.6% more and in Punjab colleges around 21% more than a PU student.

In postgraduation, the difference is much larger. A MSc degree in Chandigarh and Punjab colleges is 82 % costlier than PU per year. A student, doing MCom at a Chandigarh college, would pay over 110% more while in an affiliated college of Punjab, he would pay over 114% more than at PU. The MA degree would be costlier by over 77% in affiliated colleges of Chandigarh and Punjab than at PU.

Prof Navdeep Goyal, senator, who was present in the meeting, said, “The fee hike should be decided by a single committee for both colleges and PU departments. Only then a rational decision could take place.”

The V-C has sought suggestions from PU chairpersons on rationalising fee structure as a student, whether studying in a Chandigarh college or in Punjab or at a PU department, is getting the same degree of the same university, but he ends up paying much more in colleges.

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